The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-01-13


ments it has come your turn to contribute
something to the perfection of this already
gigantic structure, and to feel that your
duty will be we'll performed, whether it
consists in the addition of a new stone or
the replacing and polishing of some that
may have been hastily and inconsiderately
laid by some of your many predecessors.
The wisdom of yesterday may really be
the folly of to-day, or it may only seem
so, and in each instance your cool, calm
Judgment should determine which it is.
Much legislation is sometimes productive
of much evil; on the other hand, it is we'll
for us to bear in mind that rapid changes
in social and commercial conditions
frequently open new fields of legislation
which it becomes your duty to explore.
find in the action of many of my pre-
decessors a sufficient precedent to justify
me in calling your attention in detail to
some of the subjects OF legislation that
should receive your attention. That l do
not follow those presidents is not due to
the fact feel less interest in our grand
commonwealth, but because know that
each of you fully comprehend the duties
demanded of you. 1t is we'll to remember
that Texas has reached its present emf
nence in the sisterhood of states chiefly by
reason of the honesty and economy of it's
trusted and honored public servants who
have refused to squander the substance of
the masses in building up and maintain
ing an extravagant and aristocratic gov
eminent. Under some forms of govern
ment, in the interest of and for the graft
fication of the few, there have been built,
from the sweat of the many,
| nil
and there have become the wonders of the
world, not only because of their great
size but equally because of their being
monuments of that folly which believed
that government could exist under
system of laws that impoverished the
many that it might enrich the few. 1 be-
Jieve that each of you, in your moments
of cool reflection, recognize it as a his
torical fact that no greater number of
nations have been destroyed by the sword
of the invader than have been destroyed
by social revolutions resulting from per-
nicious class legislation, and the injustice
and extravaganza of ruling classes. The
prerogatives of constitutional government
should be as jealousy guarded and pre-
served by the representatives of free
people as were ever guarded by the
tives claimed and exercised upon a
much les, rational basis. No citizen liv-
ing under the protection of our state laws
should for moment have just cause to
doubt the power and disposition of his
local government to protect him in the
full and free enjoyment of all his personal
and property rights. On the other hand
no class of our citizens should have just
| 10 tha IF foil
and poverty at vast accommodations of
wealth and say these things exist not as
the result of thrift and prudence, but as
the result of an unwholsesome system of
laws which has deprived individual energy
and enterprise of an even chance in the
battle of life.
Our constituents to-day enjoy many
special blessings for which they
have just cause to thank Di-
vine Providence and the wis
dom of those to whom they entrusted
affairs of state on the other hand they
suffer some evils resulting from the anx
iely of their re representatives. to barter pres
ent prosperity almost regardless of sub
sequent social effects. Every legislative
act of yours, whether originating in this
or in the other house, whether intended
to effect locality or the state at large,
should be we'll considered in committee
and by the entire senate, SO that each
law shall be the result of your combined
wisdom and carefulness.
In a state of such great area and of
such diversified interests, it is not to be
wondered at that some times one section
may be unfortunate for lack of seasons
when the other sections are prosperous.
L 4 -. IT,.
such an extent as to create absolute want,
there should be provided some means to
relieve it from the abundance of Others
of our own section, rather than that we
should suffer the humiliation of seeing
any one of our own citizens forced to APP
peal to the charity of the citizenship of
other states.
Now, gentlemen, hoping that the ses-
sion will be pleasant to yourselves and
profitable to your country, and that each
one will deserve and receive the plaudits
of his constituents by reason of his acts
here, now declare the seLate ready for
the business of the session.
Senator Terrell offered a resolution that
the senate proceed to the election of
necessary officers, and that the president
be authorized to appoint one postmaster,
three porters and four pages, the porters
and pages to receive 81 per day. All
other officers So per day.
Senator Claiborne offered a substitute
providing for the election of the post
master.
Senator Terrell opposed the substitute,
and moved that it be laid on the table.
Carried, ard the original resolution was
adopted.
The nomination of officers being in
order, the president appointed:
Senators Morrison, Armistead and Ter
rell, tellers.
Senator Glasscock nominated Capt. W.
N. Ramey, the efficient secretary of the
Nineteenth legislature, and he was unan
imeusly elected.
The nomination of first assistant secre-
tarv being in order,